TOMS RIVER – When Gov. Phil Murphy announced that schools could be 100 percent virtual if they couldn’t safely have children back, some parents were left in a lurch.
The Goddard School on Route 70 has expanded its programming to support school-aged students as they tackle virtual learning.
Formerly, the school was open to children 6 weeks to 6 years of age. Those children are still coming, but now the school will be welcoming children up to age 13.
The teachers at the school are being prepared now to help these children with their virtual education for the School-Age Support program. The goal is to guide children through their school’s online curriculum; then during downtime they would have options like crafts, or learning chess, sign language or Spanish.
When it comes to kindergarten, the school won’t have their own curriculum like usual. Instead, they’ll be working closely with the child’s school district.
There will be low teacher-student ratios, small group settings and one-on-one homework support, if needed.
Because parents have different schedules, the kids can have different schedules, too. They can be part time, full time, or specific days.
“Staff at the school want to create a comfortable and familiar learning environment to keep the classroom setting as normal as possible, while also adhering to robust health and safety guidelines,” a school official said.
The school has enhanced cleaning protocols and has changed the drop-off and pick-up procedures. Parents are met at the door by a faculty member during designated times. Temperatures are checked during drop-off and heightened cleanliness practices are also in place.
Space for the School-Age Support program at The Goddard School located in Toms River (225 Route 70) is limited. Call 732-363-5530 or email tomsriver2nj@goddardschools.com for information, pricing and availability.
